Sheila Burgman battled the council for two years until a judge ruled in her favour
A woman whose car was damaged by a pothole has won a two-year legal battle against the local authority after taking the council to court. Sheila Burgman’s shock absorber needed replacing after her blue Peugeot 307 hit a pothole in January 2024.
The 75-year-old had to fork out £515 to fix the damage caused in London Road, Allington, Kent and made multiple claims to Kent County Council for compensation. Each of her claims was denied and by the end of 2024 she decided to take the case to small claims court.
“I’d had enough,” she explained. “I’d put in three or four claims by then. We were meant to have a date in court last November, but they [KCC] didn’t turn up. Then it was moved to the end of May and we both had our say on what happened.”
A judge found in favour of Ms Burgman and she was awarded the full £515 she had to pay for her car and £155 in court costs. “I was buzzing with the result,” she said. “I was very happy. As the judge announced her decision, it was incredibly satisfying to simply sit in the same room as the man who had caused me so much grief for the last two years.
“I was told KCC didn’t have the money and it would come from the taxpayer, but I’m a taxpayer myself and it was their fault. I wasn’t driving fast that day. I’m a careful driver and if I lose money it’s just not fair because I was driving carefully that day.”
Ms Burgman, of Maidstone, said she could have tried to get more money but didn’t because she’s “not greedy”. The former hairdresser added: “At the end of the day, it wasn’t so much about the money. It was the principle because I knew I had a case. I knew I was in the right.
“I was determined to pursue it and didn’t want to give up. I’m quite determined. It’s really easy to do and more people should look at it doing it if they think they’re in the right. When the judge told me I’d won, I was over the moon. I felt rewarded.”
Ms Burgman said: “I’m like a dog with a bone, I won’t give up.”
Kent County Council was approached for comment but has not responded.
